(A) As minimum standards, each fire, rescue, ambulance, truck, first responder company, or special operations team shall:
(1) Maintain an active company/team membership of a sufficient number of active operational volunteer members necessary to meet the minimum response criteria pursuant to § 1-2-66, including at least 3 active operational officers as determined by established officer qualification standards;
(2) Maintain an adequate means of receiving an alarm and alerting the company membership;
(3) Complete and file incident reports and maintain records of each response in the manner required by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services; and
(4) Comply at all times with the applicable minimum standards contained in subsections (B), (C), (D) and (E) of this section for the service being offered.
(B) As minimum standards to conduct fire operations, each fire company shall at all times have:
(1) Five active operational volunteer members trained to drive and properly operate the company's primary fire attack pumper, and who are in accordance with County Fire and Rescue standards;
(2) Ten active operational volunteer members who:
(a) Have successfully completed required firefighter certification training as conducted by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI), Frederick County or its equivalent;
(b) Have successfully completed other technical training and/or certifications required by established County standards;
(c) Have successfully completed the required medical/physical examination, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services; and
(d) Have successfully passed the annual "Fit Test" for use of respiratory protective equipment, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
(3) A heated fire station of adequate size and construction for the housing of the apparatus and equipment required to meet the standards. Volunteer owned and operated stations that house County employed career personnel shall maintain the basic necessities required for an employee workplace. Including but not limited to; potable water, food storage and food preparation facilities, restroom facilities, a break/lounge area, shower and locker facilities, sleeping facilities equipped with built-in fire detection and suppression systems, and a facility that is structurally sound and hazard free.
(4) A motorized pumper which is:
(a) In good operating condition;
(b) Of at least 1,000-gallon-per- minute pumping capacity;
(c) Listed by the Maryland Rating Bureau;
(d) Registered as an emergency vehicle with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration; and
(e) Annually inspected and certified by the Fire and Rescue Standards Committee as meeting the current minimum equipment standards and a satisfactory pump test.
(C) As minimum standards to conduct rescue operations, each rescue company shall at all times have:
(1) Ten active operational volunteer members who:
(a) Have successfully completed the course in rescue or truck operations as offered by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI), Frederick County or its equivalent;
(b) Have successfully completed other technical training and/or certifications required by established County standards;
(c) Have successfully completed the required medical/physical examination, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services; and
(d) Have successfully passed the annual "Fit Test" for use of respiratory protective equipment, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
(2) A heated station of adequate size and construction for the housing of the apparatus and equipment required to meet the standards. Volunteer owned and operated stations that house County employed career personnel shall maintain the basic necessities required for an employee workplace. Including but not limited to: potable water, food storage and food preparation facilities, restroom facilities, a break/lounge area, shower and locker facilities, sleeping facilities equipped with built-in fire detection and suppression systems, and a facility that is structurally sound and hazard free.
(3) A motorized piece of apparatus of minimum one-and-one-half-ton capacity which is:
(a) In good operating condition;
(b) Registered as an emergency vehicle with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration; and
(c) Annually inspected and certified by the Fire and Rescue Standards Committee or the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Committee as meeting the current minimum equipment standards and pump test.
(D) As minimum standards to conduct ambulance operations, each ambulance company shall at all times have:
(1) Ten active operational volunteer members who:
(a) Have successfully completed the basic emergency medical technician course as certified by the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services;
(b) Have successfully completed other technical training and/or certifications required by established County standards;
(c) Have successfully completed the required medical/physical examination, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services; and
(d) Have successfully passed the annual "Fit Test" for use of respiratory protective equipment, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
(2) A heated ambulance station of adequate size and construction for the housing of the apparatus and equipment required to meet the standards. Volunteer owned and operated stations that house County employed career personnel shall maintain the basic necessities required for an employee workplace. Including but not limited to; potable water, food storage and food preparation facilities, restroom facilities, a break/lounge area, shower and locker facilities, sleeping facilities equipped with built-in fire detection and suppression systems, and a facility that is structurally sound and hazard free.
(3) An ambulance which is:
(a) In good operating condition; and
(b) Adequately equipped with medical equipment and supplies and registered as an emergency vehicle with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration; and
(c) Annually inspected and certified by the EMS Committee as meeting the current minimum equipment and supplies standard.
(E) As minimum standards to operate a first responder special unit, each first responder special unit company shall at all times have:
(1) Ten trained active operational volunteer first responder members who:
(a) Have successfully completed the basic medical first responder course as certified by the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services;
(b) Have successfully completed other technical training and/or certifications required by established County standards;
(c) Have successfully completed the required medical/physical examination, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services; and
(d) Have successfully passed the annual "Fit Test" for use of respiratory protective equipment, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
(2) A heated station of adequate size and construction for the housing of the apparatus and equipment required to meet the standards. Volunteer owned and operated stations that house County employed career personnel shall maintain the basic necessities required for an employee workplace. Including but not limited to: potable water, food storage and food preparation facilities, restroom facilities, a break/lounge area, shower and locker facilities, sleeping facilities equipped with built-in fire detection and suppression systems, and a facility that is structurally sound and hazard free.
(3) A first responder special unit which is:
(a) In good working condition;
(b) Adequately equipped with medical equipment and supplies;
(c) Registered as an emergency vehicle with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration; and
(d) Annually inspected and certified by the EMS Committee as meeting the current minimum equipment and supplies standards.
(F) As minimum standards to conduct truck operations, each truck company shall at all times have:
(1) Ten active operational volunteer members who:
(a) Have successfully completed the course in truck operations by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI), Frederick County or its equivalent;
(b) Have successfully completed other technical training and/or certifications required by established County standards;
(c) Have successfully completed the required medical/physical examination, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services; and
(d) Have successfully passed the annual "Fit Test" for use of respiratory protective equipment, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
(2) A heated station of adequate size and construction for the housing of the apparatus and equipment required to meet the standards. Volunteer owned and operated stations that house County employed career personnel shall maintain the basic necessities required for an employee workplace. Including but not limited to; potable water, food storage and food preparation facilities, restroom facilities, a break/lounge area, shower and locker facilities, sleeping facilities equipped with built-in fire detection and suppression systems, and a facility that is structurally sound and hazard free.
(3) A motorized piece of aerial apparatus with a minimum of 100 feet of aerial ladder reach and a 500 pound tip load rating which is:
(a) In good operating condition;
(b) Registered as an emergency vehicle with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration; and
(c) Annually inspected and certified by the Fire and Rescue Standards Committee or the EMS Committee as meeting the current minimum equipment standards, aerial ladder test certification and pump test, if applicable.
(G) As minimum standards to operate as a "Special Operations Team", each special operations team shall maintain the following at all times:
(1) Approval of the Director of Fire and Rescue Services to operate as a County authorized specialized response team. Such approval shall be considered in consultation with the Fire and Rescue Advisory Board.
(2) A sufficient number of active operational volunteer members that have and maintain the required training and certifications for each special operations function to ensure the operational responsibilities of the special operations team can be carried out on a reliable response basis, and as determined by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
(3) Have successfully completed other technical training and/or certifications required by established County standards.
(4) Have successfully completed the required medical/physical examination, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
(5) Have successfully passed the annual "Fit Test" for use of respiratory protective equipment, as prescribed by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.
(1) Verification of compliance shall be required biennially, but may be required at anytime if the Fire and Rescue Advisory Board or Director of Fire and Rescue Services has reason to believe a volunteer corporation fails to meet minimum standards.
(2) A formal process for biennial standards verification shall be administered by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services, in consultation with the Fire and Rescue Advisory Board.
(Ord. 93-15-079, 7-20-1993; Ord. 13-01-629, 1-8-2013; Ord. 14-23-678, 11-13-2014; Bill No. 16-14, 9-20-2016; Bill No. 21-08, 6-20-2021)